Expert thought

All this past year the CEMES foundation worked on a scholarly project, which examined the Ukrainian crisis from a theological, historical and canonical perspective, always in relation to the triptych: Primacy-Conciliarity-Autocephaly.

The Church of Greece came close to formalizing legal relations with the OCU. The couple has already tried to live together, household claims have not arisen, and now, finally, they are preparing to get a stamp in the passport.

Religious Studies

In the context of recent events in the Orthodox world, disputes over the boundaries of church institutions often arise between the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Kyiv and Moscow. Ukraine accuses Russia of misappropriating the territory of the Kyiv Metropolis. In its turn, Moscow appeals to the fact that the ancient Kyiv Metropolis differs from the territory of modern Ukraine. RISU decided to clarify this topic, getting advice from historians. Based on this research, we prepared an infographic.

The first question that arises concerning Ukraine is this: with what right and based on which holy canons, does Russia today claim the ecclesiastical and administrative dependency of the Metropolis of Kyiv?

Other confessions

The fate of the two young men kidnapped two days ago in the Belogorsk suburb still is unknown despite the authorities’ promise to “return the missing young men before the next morning.” The father of one of them, Mr. Abdureshit Jepparov, left for Simferopol to meet the “Head of Crimea” Mr. Sergei Aksenov, Islam in Ukraine informs.

Books from the list of Islamic literature banned in Russia and now in the occupied Crimea were seized in the mosque in Simferopol’s Fountains district, where on September 17, the "prosecution" officers performed an inspection, reports Radio Liberty.

Maarifci Association of Crimean Tatar Educators approached the Crimean Minister of Education, Science and Youth Natalya Honcharova with a proposal to eliminate the problem in the sphere of tutoring in Crimean Tatar language, Islam in Ukraine informs.

Uman expects more than thirty thousand pilgrims. They come with the intention to celebrate the Jewish New Year and to visit the grave of their spiritual leader Rabbi Nachman, but they will also help Ukrainian soldiers with money.

Despite the difficult situation in Ukraine, more than 35 thousand Hasidic pilgrims from 25 countries will come to Uman, Cherkasy region, this year to celebrate the new year 5775 Jews Rosh Hashanah on September 24.

Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama criticized Russia's President Vladimir Putin as "self-centred" in a German newspaper interview on Sunday, saying Putin seems to want to "rebuild the Berlin Wall".

Private Gymnasium started its work at Kyiv Islamic Cultural Centre with the solemn opening “First Bell” ceremony on September 1, 2014 at 11AM. The study plan, fulfilling the obligatory state education programme, also makes a good showing by advanced study of foreign languages (English and Arabic), lessons on Ethics and Ethnic traditions.

A missile hit Donetsk Cathedral Mosque “Akhat’-Jami” during the shelling on August 16. It broke through the central dome and exploded inside the building. Fortunately, the prayer hall was empty at that moment, so there were no injuries.

The books banned in Russia were found as a result of the search in the Crimean Madrassas. The case of the director of the educational institution was filed in court. This was reported by Deputy Mufti of the Muslims of Crimea Esadullah Bayirov to Krym.Realii website.

A 5-day III International Youth School For Islamic Studies was launched at Kyiv Islamic Cultural Centre. Young Islamic researchers from both different parts of ukraine and Belarus will take part in its work.

Said Ismagilov, Mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine "Ummah", urges Muslims to pay zakat al-Fitr, which is paid by Muslims at the end of Ramadan, for the needs of refugees from the Crimea and Donbas.

All the Jews in Ukraine, from Lviv to Donbas, are a Ukrainian social force, they are concerned for the fate of the state, its integrity and are fighting for it in the ranks of the Ukrainian army, Yaakov Dov Bleich, Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Ukraine, said in his interview to Radio Liberty.

On June 27 the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began. Deputy Mufti of Muslims of Crimea Ayder Ismailov hsared his view what the current Ramadan will be like for Muslims of Crimea, caught in the new conditions, reports Religion in Ukraine referring to Islam.in.ua.